Posted 09-22-2002 at 09:29:45
[Reply] [No Email]As I sit here looking out on the hog we finally sold I wonder if it is feasable to raise a couple of pigs over the winter?

What do ya'll mentors think and suggest?

JZ Smith

Posted 09-23-2002 at 14:30:40
[Reply][Send Email]By raising a couple pigs, I take it you mean buying some feeder pigs and raising them up. Pretty much everything said above is right on; you've got to keep those waterers from freezin. If they can go in a shed where you'll have some clean bedding and feed them\water them outside, they should do just fine. They don't need much room, but make sure they can all get inside. Keep the area inside clean; shouldn't take more than 5 minutes twice a day.

In MN, the best pigs we ever raised we farrowed in mid-December in a heated, insulated farrowing house with 10 metal crates and 6 wooden pens; We weaned 132 pigs from 11 second-litter sows.

kraig WY

Posted 09-22-2002 at 17:00:48
[Reply] [No Email]This will be the first year in quite a while I haven't entered the winter with hogs. We're talking 30 mph winds at -20 degrees way too ofter. Keep water heaters to keep from choping ice (although it is something to see them noses try to break through the ice). They don't gain as much because more energy keeping warm. Only use heat lamps on babies. The more pigs the easier they stay warm with their body heat. A good wind proof house is a necessary. They'll generate their own heat. Pigs will eat snow better then most animals. Also its harder for them to dig under the fence when the ground is frozen.

Ron/PA

Posted 09-22-2002 at 16:07:33
[Reply][Send Email]Dennis, In the winter, we go to a barrel waterer and put a floating heater in it. This will keep the drinking cup warm down to -20 (yep it will) and a heat lamp on the young ones will get them started. Once they are started they will do ok in sufficient straw or hay. I start a batch this time every year. It gives us something to raise, and like Les said we don't even think about bears this time of year. The timing is just right for Easter. The coyotes will slink around when the snow gets deep but we usually just feed them one of the neighbors. (grin)Ron

Stench McNasty

Posted 09-22-2002 at 14:04:56
[Reply] [No Email]A couple a hogs can reduce yer winter heatin bill considerble.They give off quite a bit of waste heat you can utilize/The colder it gets,ya just add another hog...thats where the term"Three Hog Night" came from.........."Dog"??Well thats another tale altogether.

DeadCarp

Posted 09-22-2002 at 15:12:18
[Reply] [No Email]Not such a silly idea Stench! Old Finnish houses were attached to the barn (well, by a breezeway, but the attics were together) and leftover animal body heat CAN be gleaned from them without harm. If ya wanna get elaborate, the manure from 4 cows will produce enough methane to heat a family's house. Yeah i heard it was dogs too, but you know how much hogs lie. lol

Hogman

Posted 09-22-2002 at 15:28:36
[Reply] [No Email] Was in several homes in France where one or more rooms were used for livestock. They said it depended on tha ratio of critters ta people as in "EBB'N FLO". but did help keep tha house warm and tha critters from freezin. Plus, tha ole woman did'nt have ta go out in tha cold ta take care of em. Course that was nigh on ta 60 year agone.

Bob /Ont.

Posted 09-22-2002 at 17:46:52
[Reply][Send Email]What!!! Keeping animals in the house? Never heard of such a thing.Later Bob

TOPER JAY

Posted 09-23-2002 at 05:12:30
[Reply] [No Email] Hey now, They moved tha furniture out befor moven critters in'n shoveled tha poop out afor movin furniture back in. A TOTAL UTILIZATION PLAN. They also made a cheese,had these skinny hoops and straw mats. Fill tha hoop'n put a mat (porus kinda thingie)on each side'n stuff it in tha manure pile for warmth'n I recon Bacterial critters. If Ya could sorta forget where it was proccessed twas down right good eatin along with a big hunk of "REAL"french bread'n a jug of Vin Blonde'er Rouge..... Pretty easy bein knowledgable of French wines, had Your choice, white er red.......

Bob /Ont.

Posted 09-23-2002 at 06:28:23
[Reply][Send Email]Oh! That makes more sence Toper, if they got the furniture out first then they wouldn't have them darn pigs rooting the stuff up against the door and laying down against it. That makes it hard to get back in to feed them.Later Bob

Posted 09-22-2002 at 13:11:24
[Reply] [No Email] Havin raised Pigs tha Year round Dennis perhaps I'm not a good one to consult with since it was "24/365"..

A warm house for tha Sow to farrow in but just as often They wanted ta build a nest out in tha woods even in 10 below weather.

Water was an ever problem,I have hundreds of feet of extension cord used ta reach waterers'n keep em from freezin. One of tha worst things,yea varly dreaded was cleanin water cups. Insulated rubber gloves was tha order of tha day but some things had ta be done bare handed,gives a whole new meanin ta "cold hands"! As Les mentioned have at least three of em for warmth. Remember, a hog has no hair,no shaggy fur coat,nothin but hide ta keep warm with.

In closin, Tho I miss tha Hogs very,very much because I truely love tha bloomin things,I do not miss Them nearly so much when it's down around zero,tha winds howlin and I'm settin in My recliner. Tha cows have round bale feeders and comparitively warm well water ta drink. Check on em once a day mostly from tha cab of a warm truck. Course there is tha thrill of gettin on a cabless tractor ta put out those round bales but if it's realy bad I just set in tha cab, load up and unload with ole do-eze.

Do I vote Yea or Nay? nope, I abstain......

Les...fortunate

Posted 09-22-2002 at 12:06:49
[Reply] [No Email]I live in the mountains of NH (read: long, cold winters) and I prefer raising them in the winter for several reasons.First of all, they're much cheaper to buy. The main reason is that I have never had a bear bothering the pigs in the winter. Another reason, not near as much stink or flies, etc. We get free pig food from my son's place of employment (fancy restaurant and microbrewery). Do they gain as well as in the summer? No, but they do just fine. Make sure they have plenty of warm dry bedding and don't try to raise just one. Two or more will keep each other warm and will gain better just because of competing. As long as they have something warm to drink a few times a day and plenty to eat they'll be just fine. Never have we provided pigs (other than newborns) with heat or constantly heated water.Economically, it may not make sense but I haven't heard of too many people making money off pigs at any time of the year.There ain't nothin better eatin than home grown ham for Easter. Good luck.

JohnnyB

Posted 09-22-2002 at 11:50:11
[Reply] [No Email]Hogs do real well here in the winter,N.E. Tx, they don't fare so well in the heat of summer. Our winters barely get below freezing and with the right housing you can keep them warm and dry they'll do great.

Promise Land Ranch

Posted 09-22-2002 at 10:55:08
[Reply] [No Email]We raise pigs ONCE in the winter and will never do it again. Why? The pigs don't gain as well so you have to feed them more. You have to have better houseing and heated water troughs so they don't freeze. They also make alot more work because they mess the straw you use as bedding so you have to clean it out often. Overall It can be done but I would not recommend it, unless you live somewhere were it doesn't get very cold.